A Word of Encouragement

About a month ago I signed up on a website (for free!) that allows me to enter short stories (150-750 words) in a contest. I don't enter the contests to win but as another avenue to improve my writing. (I will say you do have to win to move onto the next level though) There is a new writing prompt each week and I have now submitted two stories. If you have taken the time to read my bio you will remember that some good friends of mine encouraged me to start wrtiting a couple fo years ago. I have messed around with it since then and and have a lot of, well, nothing. Oh, I do have some story ideas in that heap but nothing that I have really put my heart into but I have enjoyed the process. The real problem is that I have not been diligent with my writing. To improve in anything you attempt takes practice. Though I don't believe that you will become perfect if you practice enough I do believe you will imporve, getting better with each passing day. This is where I think my problem is, I am holding myself back by not being consistant with writing. With this said I have been looking for ways that will encourage me to write more so that I can imporve. The answer has been FatihWriters.com. It is free and easy and you get wonderful feed back from other participants. As Imentioned I have submitted two articles and have had very nice comments back from other writers and this has been a great encouragement to me! Two things I have noticed about these two submissions: 1) I have been passionate about them, they touched me personally and deeply in one way or another; 2) I have been able to improve from one submission to another. My latest submission, "A Glass of Milk With God" picked up the best "reveiews I have had so far and I can;t tell you how this excites me and motivates me to do better! If you are interested in improving your writing or just getting more exposure to your writing in a non-threatening way, check out FaithWriters.com! It is worth the effort! Keep fighting the good fight! Bye

Grace on Display -- Sept. 21, 2007

Each one of us on this little blue ball in space is a recipient of God's grace. "He makes the rain fall on the just and the unjust"... However, there are times when we seem to need a extra special injection of love and grace and when we get it it's like being reborn!

I am not talking about salvation from the spiritual sense here; I am talking about being a believer and being in a position that requires nothing more than grace and love.

This year my family and I have been on a roller coaster ride of proportions that we have not seen since Grady died, some five and a half years ago! Stress crept in as a serpent in the garden early and often this year and each time God, in His timing, displayed His grace and mercy through willing servants who modeled God's grace and mercy.

I always want to be a blessing to someone else but this year I have been the Jerry Rice of grace, the receiver. In fact, when I have tried to be the quarterback, the play turned into a flea flicker and I received the "ball" again! (See my blog on Grandma Vi.)

I have come to the realization that there are times when you can be used as a blessing in someone else's life but there are times when you are the one who receives the goodness of others.

To be honest, what I have gained, what I have been shown and have learned through these anxious times, by seeing the men and women of God come along side and demonstrate in incredible ways, God's grace and love, far outweighs any material benefit we have received.

When God moves the mountains we have created in our lives due to stress, sin, or whatever has caused us to be in the distressed place we are in, melts in the heat of His love and grace and the freedom we then have is, indeed, beyond what we thought possible.

I will leave you with this thought, piece of advice or whatever you would like to think of it as. Do with it as you will but please give it some thought:

 

Don't be too proud or fearful to seek help or guidance in troubling matters. We are not made to be islands nor are we made to bear our burdens alone. God's grace, in His timing, is a cool soothing rain during periods of drought in one's soul. He can move on His own but He likes to work through His servants. And who knows, maybe one day God will use you to demonstrate His grace to someone else! That is the true blessing!

 

Lord, Allow all of us to see Your grace in action and so move in our hearts that we would be willing and able to be used of You in others lives in return!

Thank You.

 

Good bye for now and may God's grace shine upon you in wonderful ways!